Ning Que left.
Lin Xianhong didn't spare him another glance.
“Hmph, he’s gone too far!”
“He refuses to divorce, yet wants to divorce me?”
“He doesn’t even look at his own conduct. Does he deserve to?”
“I think he’s just after Ning Wangfei’s dowry!”
Great Feng's etiquette was strict. A woman who was divorced must have committed one of the Seven Outs. Such abandoned women had no human rights and couldn't take away the dowry they brought to their husband's family, effectively leaving empty-handed.
“He only cares about these things.”
Lin Xianhong coughed lightly.
She didn't even want to mention Ning Que's name.
But she forgot, her dowry was funded by Ning Royal Mansion.
Ning Que was merely taking back what belonged to him.
“Madam, you needn’t worry. Ning Que cares about you the most. He often lost his temper before, but then he would turn around and try to appease you. This time, he’s just doing this on purpose, simply because he’s petty and can’t get over it, hoping to get more of your attention.”
“That’s right! Ning Que enjoys frequenting brothels and is most skilled at playing hard to get. Saying he wants to divorce you is merely a trick to get your attention.”
“I never cared about him.”
Lin Xianhong turned away indifferently.
From the moment Ning Que drugged her and forcibly took her, her good feelings for Ning Que vanished. In her eyes, Ning Que was a despicable scoundrel who was greedy for money and lustful!
Drugging her was bad enough, but he also dared to do it and not admit it, letting the manor’s steward take the blame. Every time she recalled it, she only felt disgusted!
“Xianhong!”
“Xianhong!”
“Father?”
Lin Jiang, in his red official robes, quickly entered the room. He was Lin Xianhong’s father, serving as a Ministry of Personnel official, a sixth-rank officer. He was cunning and slick, a seasoned veteran in officialdom.
“How are you now?”
“I’m fine.”
“That fellow just came?”
“Yes.”
“Ning Que was still clamoring about divorcing you.”
“Divorce?” Lin Jiang burst out laughing, disdainfully saying, “He likes you a lot, it’s nothing more than jealousy. Even if you gave him ten times the guts, he wouldn’t divorce you.”
“Yes.”
“It’s just…”
“What?”
Lin Jiang pondered for a moment, then softly said, “It’s just that… what you’re carrying is, after all, imperial blood. Even with the Empress Dowager’s backing, Ning Que can still use Prince Ning’s banner. If it escalates, you’ll be the one to suffer!”
“No need to fear.”
Lin Xianhong didn't care at all.
She achieved what she had today entirely through her own efforts.
She was a renowned divine doctor in Chang'an!
A third-rank official, a favorite in front of the Empress Dowager!
“What did that Gu Family lad say?”
“General Gu…”
A blush crept onto Lin Xianhong's face.
“General Gu and I have known each other since childhood, innocent playmates.”
“He used the Prince Ning case as a pretext to suppress my Jiang Family, then grandly bestowed favor upon my Jiang Family. He did all this merely to force me to marry him.”
“General Gu has already promised that as long as I separate from Ning Que, he will come with an eight-sedan chair to formally propose marriage. At that time, I will be the Gu Family’s mistress, in charge of the household affairs!”
“Really?”
“Haha, good, good, good!”
Lin Jiang laughed and nodded.
“The Gu Family is currently at its peak. Gu Yuan, at such a young age, is already a First Rank General. With three to five more years of tempering, he will surely rank among the dukes. In time, being conferred an Other surname Prince will not be a problem!”
Ning Royal Mansion had already fallen into decline.
Now it was just barely holding on.
In fact, they had all privately discussed it, believing that Prince Ning's death was at Emperor Feng's behest. Prince Ning was the regent, with immense power, controlling all the military forces in the realm. Prince Ning was an obstacle to Emperor Feng's complete control, and had to be eliminated!
So, what kind of waves could Ning Que stir up?
Whether he could even hold onto Ning Royal Mansion was a question.
Meanwhile, the Gu Family was on the rise, a new star among the military families.
Gu Yuan was even more accomplished in both civil and military arts, destined for greatness.
“It’s just…”
“What?”
Lin Jiang looked troubled and whispered, “Your sister’s wedding is approaching, and the Jiang Family finally agreed, but they’re asking for quite a large dowry. This matter was originally handled by Ning Que, but now…”
“No need to ask him.”
Lin Xianhong didn't take it to heart at all.
She proudly turned to look outside the door.
“I saved General Gu, and the Gu Family will help. Besides, I am a third-rank female medical official, and the Empress Dowager recently bestowed some rewards upon me. Father, trust me, without him, I will only live better. Don’t even think about threatening me with such methods again!”
…
…
As night fell.
Emperor Feng rubbed his eyes, his head aching.
The Ministry of War had just sent a memorial, requesting commendations and rewards for Gu Yuan.
The Ministry of Rites was preparing for negotiations with Western Liang.
The Ministry of Revenue needed to organize the year's finances.
All sorts of trivial matters weighed on his shoulders.
“Your Majesty, have some calming tea.”
“Yes.”
Chief Steward Hu stepped forward and offered the calming tea.
He had served by Emperor Feng's side since childhood.
Over fifty years old, and highly skilled in martial arts.
In the past, to protect Emperor Feng, he even lost an arm.
Emperor Feng took a sip, letting out a long sigh.
“My Imperial Brother’s calming tea is quite effective.”
“Indeed.”
“Summon him to the palace tomorrow.” Emperor Feng perked up, saying indifferently, “He has already come of age and should have inherited the princely title long ago to share the nation’s burdens. Yet he spends his days circling around a woman, not fearing the world’s ridicule. Since Lin Xianhong is already pregnant, it can be considered that Ning Wangfei’s last wish has been fulfilled.”
“Alas…”
Chief Steward Hu sighed softly.
The one Emperor Feng cared about was the Prince Ning's heir.
Soon, he changed the subject.
“He’s stubborn enough!”
“To strengthen Ning Royal Mansion, I have no objection and support it. But he won’t touch that woman, how can he propagate the family line? In the end, I still had to help him, secretly giving them medicine. He is, after all, the heir, yet he doesn’t take concubines or marry consorts, only the Lin Family woman!”
Emperor Feng gnashed his teeth at the thought of this.
He and Ning Que had known each other since childhood.
He was not originally the Crown Prince, but born of a noble consort. In his youth, he enjoyed military strategies and treatises, and as a prince, he followed Prince Ning, having a very good relationship with Ning Que.
The two studied together, caused trouble together, and were punished together.
Once, when they were out of the camp playing, they were ambushed. Ning Que, disregarding his own safety, slew eight highly skilled villains, while he himself only suffered a sword wound.
Who would have thought that Ning Que possessed such ability?
…
“The heir… is indeed extraordinary.”
Chief Steward Hu did not comment much from the side.
He knew that Ning Que was actually quite outstanding.
Take this great victory against Western Liang, for example; Ning Que's contribution was indispensable.
The stirrups and saddles he presented changed the course of the battle!
They caused the Great Feng cavalry's combat strength to surge!
Completely reversing the decline and severely damaging Western Liang's main force!
And the two deputy generals who led the cavalry were actually from Prince Ning's former subordinates!
“Your Majesty!”
“Prince Ning's heir requests an audience with Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
Emperor Feng frowned, then smiled.
“I haven't even looked for him, and he’s come instead.”
“Bring him in.”
“It’s just…”
“Just what? Let him in!”
Seeing him hesitate, Emperor Feng didn't ask further.
What else could it be?
It was probably that he had taken a fancy to some rare medicine in the palace again, wanting it for Lin Xianhong's pregnancy.
A moment later, the Imperial Study door opened.
Ning Que entered, dressed in mourning clothes, holding Prince Ning's memorial tablet.
Neither servile nor overbearing, each step was heavy.
“How… how dare you!”
“Heir, what are you doing?”
“Stop!”
Emperor Feng, with a cold face, stopped Chief Steward Hu from scolding him.
“Ning Que, what are you doing?!”
“Your subject humbly requests Your Majesty to bestow upon him a dose of “Crane Top Red”!”
“You… you said what?”
Emperor Feng even wondered if he had misheard.
Ordinarily, Ning Que was undisciplined and liked to make a fuss.
He stood up and looked at Ning Que below the platform.
But his gaze was unexpectedly firm!
“I request Your Majesty to bestow upon your subject a dose of “Crane Top Red”!”
“You… you… are you mad?!”